Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Rampant Games Official Statement Regarding Age-Appropriate Game Sales
Just in case you didn't know, Rampant Games sells games.
I know a lot of you just come for the blog, and that's cool. But I sell games, too. I don't sell nearly as many as I'd like. I make way less than minimum wage doing this. But it's a labor of love.
I've got quite a few games on the website. Especially adventures & RPGs. If I ever find time again, I'll be adding more. And, of course, I'm spending much of what would have been "free time" writing new games that I hope you will enjoy.
I'm a Utah-based game seller. Yesterday, the state house passed an idiotic and counter-productive Utah bill penned in part by disbarred lawyer "Wacky" Jack Thompson. I figure there's a good chance it will become a law - even if a short-lived one - here in my state. Our house reps are apparently idiots, and I don't expect the state senate to be any better. Since it could theoretically affect me, I wanted to make an official statement of policy here. I want to advertise myself truthfully here, so that the local psychotic busy-bodies and ambulance chasers might not attack me on a technicality:
Rampant Games makes NO promises as to the age-appropriateness of these games for YOUR children. Nor will Rampant Games commit to enforcing its - or someone else's -opinions on age-appropriateness on customers.
I do not know your children. I do not know your standards. I've got my own standards for my own kids, and that's my responsibility. Your children are your own.
Games sold by Rampant Games are generally not rated by the ESRB. That system does not serve small independent game developers. And in truth - I prefer it that way. As we can see from this bill (and a whole bunch of failed bills before it...), the rating system has become corrupted and abused by people in power as a way to attack an industry they don't like or understand.
Now, I do try and add suggestions in many of the descriptions as to whether or not I, personally, consider the game to be "family-friendly." I really don't sell "kids' games." I sell the kinds of games that I like, and that I assume my visitors like. I do like - and sell - a lot of games that I feel are appropriate for my own children. But I also sell some that aren't.
Parents: I am not your babysitter. I am not your nanny. Nor do I think the government has any right to be.
Between stupid bills, technological limitations, and the nature of my business, I am not going to commit to policing my personal views on age appropriateness for the games I sell. Nor will I attempt to enforce some arbitrary politically-motivated "official" ratings system upon my customers, making it more difficult and confusing to purchase games online than it already is.
If your kid somehow has their own PayPal account or authorization to use your credit card, I would suggest that you keep an eye on how they use it. You really ought to make sure they aren't paying for porn access, funding terrorist groups, contributing to the Jack Thompson presidential campaign fund, or... oh, yeah.... buying inappropriate video games.
But I won't force my personal beliefs and opinions on you.
I think you, as a parent, should take an interest in the entertainment your child is exposed to. This can be difficult, especially when your ten-year-old ends up playing HALO or watching The Dark Knight at a friends' house. That's just life. You do what you can. I know it's challenging. I'm right there with ya. I think it is completely asinine that our politicians think they can hand-wave those issues away - especially by attacking a barely-related non-problem in the name of "doing something."
Ultimately, watching over your kids is your job as a parent for your children, just as it's my job with mine. As a seller of videogames, I am not going to attempt to second-guess you as a parent. If you think Fatal Hearts is appropriate for your eight-year-old, that's your call. If you don't think your fourteen-year-old is mature enough for Aveyond 2, that's also your call. You know your kids. I only know my own.
Now, if you have questions, please feel free to contact me and ask. Now, due to government regulation, I cannot commit to assisting you in any way, shape, or form. But I will say that in the past, I've either been in a position to answer said questions, or to contact the developer (many of whom I'm acquainted with via email, and some of whom frequent this blog and the Rampant Games community forums) and ask for assistance - whether it's been technical support, a gameplay question, or a question of content. I am happy to offer my own opinions and suggestions - so long as you, the customer, understand that is strictly my own opinion or suggestion and may be of no use to you.
I do this because I believe that this is the sort of thing that should be handled informally by parents and their chosen community and those they do business with - and not by grandstanding politicians, special interest groups, and jackass lawyers (disbarred for bad conduct or otherwise).
I hope that my customers feel the same.
On a side note, I don't feel that any of my games are appropriate for Jack Thompson, Utah Representative Mike Morely, or Utah Eagle Forum kingpin Gayle Ruzicka. I really don't think they are mature enough to handle them. But true to my non-pledge, I won't prevent them from purchasing games on my site, either.
Thanks for listening.
- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 5:51 AM (Permalink)
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dang dude, I thought you were coming over tonight to babysit for us.
If our 100lb akita wont eat our baby she wont ear you. And we promise not to sue if you feed him coke-a-cola in his bedtime bottle.
If our 100lb akita wont eat our baby she wont ear you. And we promise not to sue if you feed him coke-a-cola in his bedtime bottle.
> Our house reps are apparently idiots
Usually, people get the representatives they deserve.
I also think that the thinking part of the public is generally in the minority.
Usually, people get the representatives they deserve.
I also think that the thinking part of the public is generally in the minority.
# posted by 
: March 04, 2009 12:14 PM
: March 04, 2009 12:14 PM
Wow, I wish all small print and EULA information was as well written and entertaining.
On a more serious note, I agree with you wholeheartedly. And I'm appalled Jack Thompson continues to have any kind of legal or political power. The man, in my opinion, is not merely an idiot, he's self-serving, manipulative idiot, who lacks the very morals he claims to be protecting.
On a more serious note, I agree with you wholeheartedly. And I'm appalled Jack Thompson continues to have any kind of legal or political power. The man, in my opinion, is not merely an idiot, he's self-serving, manipulative idiot, who lacks the very morals he claims to be protecting.
>> Parents: I am not your babysitter. I am not your nanny. Nor do I think the government has any right to be.
Very well said! Parent need to own up to their responsibilities and quit trying to cash in after they realize they have made a mistake. The game industry doesn't owe a dime to these parents, these parents owe their children attention, and when necessary, correction with their best interests at heart.
Very well said! Parent need to own up to their responsibilities and quit trying to cash in after they realize they have made a mistake. The game industry doesn't owe a dime to these parents, these parents owe their children attention, and when necessary, correction with their best interests at heart.
It's good your selling online. In the UK, if you have a boxed product it must be passed under the BBFC if it contains what they consider mature content (otherwise it is voluntary...it's if it's 15 or 18, whatever distinctions those are they don't release much information).
The problem being, they can also ban your game this way by making it "Unclassified" - Manhunt had this done to it (a game which, while not to everyones tastes, had merit in it's niche area, just as gory horror films do).
This is the horrifying part. The BBFC isn't voluntary, it's by law. I mean, of course, actual sellers of games (from Wal-Mart to UK's Game) will want those classifications before selling the game, but it's the fact that no one can sell it legally, not even the publisher (eg: directly).
Online gets around that, luckily, I wonder how it'll change here in the future. We don't get 1st Amendment protection for stuff, heh.
Anyway, nice essay on your own responsibilities and the need for more responsibility on behalf of parents. You can't rate the game for everyone, which is where the rating systems fall down widely generalising content.
The problem being, they can also ban your game this way by making it "Unclassified" - Manhunt had this done to it (a game which, while not to everyones tastes, had merit in it's niche area, just as gory horror films do).
This is the horrifying part. The BBFC isn't voluntary, it's by law. I mean, of course, actual sellers of games (from Wal-Mart to UK's Game) will want those classifications before selling the game, but it's the fact that no one can sell it legally, not even the publisher (eg: directly).
Online gets around that, luckily, I wonder how it'll change here in the future. We don't get 1st Amendment protection for stuff, heh.
Anyway, nice essay on your own responsibilities and the need for more responsibility on behalf of parents. You can't rate the game for everyone, which is where the rating systems fall down widely generalising content.
Man, I've always loved the Bill of Rights, but reports from other countries sure helps remind me how much I appreciate them. Although it seems many of our both self-appointed and publicly elected nannies consider it a pesky obstacle.
The problem is that these stupid laws get on the books by politicians who want to appear pro-active in some way. But they never get taken OFF the books again. Or almost never.
I also think it's sad and embarrassing how the best defense of the bill most of the local representatives can make is that it's "toothless" and pretty much useless. So you are saying that you feel good about passing the bill because it doesn't hurt that bad for accomplishing nothing?
Again - it's only about political grandstanding and adding some "family values" cred to a voting record. These jerks are such a huge waste of skin.
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The problem is that these stupid laws get on the books by politicians who want to appear pro-active in some way. But they never get taken OFF the books again. Or almost never.
I also think it's sad and embarrassing how the best defense of the bill most of the local representatives can make is that it's "toothless" and pretty much useless. So you are saying that you feel good about passing the bill because it doesn't hurt that bad for accomplishing nothing?
Again - it's only about political grandstanding and adding some "family values" cred to a voting record. These jerks are such a huge waste of skin.
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